Dateline: Paris

Dateline Paris, 9:17 a.m., Thursday, May 31, 2007—Je suis ici. J’arrive. I think that means, I’ve arrived. I’m actually only as far as the baggage claim at the Charles de Gaulle Airport, called Roissy, but Paris it is, so I’m officially declaring my mission accomplished. Going through customs was a breeze, although there was a very funny que to go through, zigging and zagging our way to the kiosks where the customs agents were awaiting us, unimpressed and giving new meaning to the word blasé.

Now I’m waiting for Diane to arrive from Miami. In the meantime, I’m reading the huge signs for the Cannes Film Festival (sponsored by L’Oreal because, no doubt, they’re worth it), the perfume billboards and listening to the rapid-fire French dialogues around me. Far from the language lab of 1977… from my college French textbook conversations that I can still recite verbatim (“La neige est belle aujourd hui; si on allez faire du ski?” Translation: “The snow is beautiful today… would you like to go skiing?”) A lovely couple from the plane smiled as they passed me with their luggage and said, “Have a good trip,” to which I replied, “You, too,” then belatedly, sensing something in them that hinted at more savoir faire than the typical American, “Or do you live here?” The woman smiled and nodded, Yes. “Je suis jalouse,” I countered. Haven’t even gotten out of the airport and already I’m jealous of any American who gets to live here.

The plane ride was uneventful, surprisingly like every other plane ride only, of course, longer. Read one of my Paris guide books from the library called “The Irreverent Guide to Paris.” It’s very funny, wickedly written and I can’t wait to use it when we plot our next few days. Watched two movies: “Miss Potter” with Renee Zellweger and “Dirty Dancing.” Oy vey, that was a throwback. Hard to believe it was such a hit with such a corny script, but it was fun to watch them dance and to marvel at Patrick Swayze’s muscles rippling.

I sat next to a gentleman from Beirut who lives in Australia… he struck up a short conversation and I learned he’s in Paris to visit his niece. He was very, em, ripe and I caught a whiff of him from time to time. After reading a book in Arabic, he put the regulation airplane blanket over his head and fell asleep, spilling over into my seat with his elbow. Even a gentle nudge didn’t move him. I finally got up and walked around a bit, checked in with the flight attendant to see if she knew anything about Di’s flight from Miami which was delayed, and by the time I got back to my seat, he had shifted. I don’t know why but I was very surprised when he strapped on a clerical collar upon landing. Would I have thought of him differently if I knew he was a priest?

There’s a café upstairs but if I exit, I can’t get back in, so I’m waiting instead. I could go for a strong cup of coffee right now… it’s 2:35 a.m. Chicago time, and now I’m getting used to looking at my dual-dial watch in its respective time zones from the other side of the Atlantic. I think of my boys, asleep, Peanut munching contentedly on one of my quilts, no doubt. I know they’ll be fine without me but I worry that they won’t talk to each other, won’t buy any food except bread and milk, won’t survive unless I’m there to keep their world spinning. Silly, really. They’re both grown men. And Bill—how did he get by for 31 years without me?

11:29 a.m. on D-Day

One last small load of laundry to do and then I'm nearly ready for Bob, my friend and driver, to pick me up and take me to the airport. Still have to run over to the office to pack up some stuff... yikes! But I do have my trusty list, which I kept at my bedside last night in case I remembered anything more for the list (which I did) and I've made some headway. Connected with Kitty, my daughter, who lives in the city with her Big White Dog Jake--I didn't want to leave the country without getting a chance to say good-bye to her, too. Said goodbye to the boys this morning and Peanut's in good hands with Mikey the dog-sitter this week. Tried to check in with the airlines online but I guess they don't do that for international flights.



Celebrated with my friend Lesley and her husband Joe Eddy last night, toasting not only my trip but also our FitChicks team, of which Lesley is the team leader. We are raising money for the Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society and we've already exceeded our team goal. So I was drinking a Pom-tini when I should have been packing (I needed the anti-oxidants). We do an all-night relay at Glenbard South High School the day after I get home.



Off to finish my check-list. Bon voyage!

Tomorrow--Paris!

Last night to celebrate our anniversary, Bill and I saw the movie "Paris: Je T'Aime," meaning, "Paris, I Love You." The movie is made up of little vignettes of life in Paris, directed by different people (everyone from the Coen brothers to Wes Craven) and starring dozens of recognizable stars, including Juliette Binoche, Gena Rowlands and Elijah Wood. The real star of the movie was Paris itself, and I was thrilled to recognize some of the landmarks I've been studying in preparation for my trip.

Today will be a "city" day seeing clients in Chicago so I have to dash off to get ready... lots to do in preparation for tomorrow. I don't leave until mid-afternoon but it will sneak up on me, I know. A bit anxious about leaving my boys (husband and son) and the Peanut (dog) but mostly excited.

Four Days and Counting

Here goes... launching my own blog at the urging of friends and colleagues who assure me of its ease of use as well as its utility as a communications tool for someone like me, building a worldwide coaching practice. Not to mention the "hip" factor...

Four days and counting before I leave for Paris, France, realizing a life-long dream and also getting some work done there to boot. Client and long-time friend John Kenney (fellow Thunderbird), who is now an accomplished global supply chain architect, invited me to develop a sales training program with him and we're rolling it out to the global sales staff. First stop was Austin, TX, and now we're off to Paris where I wisely added five days upfront so I can see the city with another fellow T-bird, good friend Diane, who was game for a girls' jaunt to Paris. What a clever girl she is!

The thing about a blog is that, for someone who has been writing in journals and diaries all her life, it seems arrogant to assume that anyone would want to read mine. [And why, pray tell, is it cool to blog yet uncool to send out a family Christmas letter?] But blog I shall, and I'm committed to documenting every juicy detail of my trip to France and later, to Hong Kong where we'll be presenting to the Asian sales team later this summer. The only real challenge will be to keep this short--I used to get paid by the word. Thank you, Sue Tripp, of Dreamcatcher Websites (www.dreamcatcherwebsites.com), for helping me launch!